Stressed cats
Cats, just like people, may suffer from stress. This might be caused by different factors, e.g. environmental factors, physical factors and mental factors. Below I will discuss the factors that could cause stress.
Environmental factors
You might be surprised how scared and nervous cats react on changes in their
environment. Cats mainly are, more than any other animal, creatures of habit.
They may find it very awkward if their daily routine is changed out of
necessity.
Stress factors in the cat’s environment:
• Moving into another house
• Too many other pets in the household
•
Involuntary confinement
• Lack of fresh air or daylight, especially for cats
that are used to going outside
• Changes in the daily routine.
Stress factors which might influence the physical health:
• Corpulence
• Illness
• Psychological trauma
• Operations
• Fleas, worms and other parasites.
Emotional stress factors:
• Boredom and loneliness
• Death of a human or animal family member
• Fear
• Competition / jealousy
• Other changes in the family.
Cats may show their agitation in many different ways. Below are some symptoms which might be stress indications.
Stress indications:
• Excessive fur care or no fur care at all
• Refusing food
• Chewing uneatable things like cloths
• Urinating/defecating in the house when the cat normally always uses the litter box.
• Corpulence
• Illness
• Psychological trauma
• Operations
• Fleas, worms and other parasites.
Emotional stress factors:
• Boredom and loneliness
• Death of a human or animal family member
• Fear
• Competition / jealousy
• Other changes in the family.
Cats may show their agitation in many different ways. Below are some symptoms which might be stress indications.
Stress indications:
• Excessive fur care or no fur care at all
• Refusing food
• Chewing uneatable things like cloths
• Urinating/defecating in the house when the cat normally always uses the litter box.
As for way to handle this, there are many options; which one you should
use strongly depends on the cause of the agitation.
At first, try to find the
cause of the agitation and remove it.
Of course, some stress factors will not influence the cat anymore after some time, because it gets used to it. For example, you cannot undo a divorce or the birth of a baby.
Have your cat checked by the veterinarian in order to exclude a physical cause and/or to discuss a plan of action concerning corpulence or possible worms, fleas and parasites.
Should the cause be competition/jealousy with another animal, temporarily separate these animals and give them food and attention on different hours. Introducing a new pet is a process which takes time and patience. It might take weeks or months before a cat gets used to a new pet in its surroundings.
Of course, some stress factors will not influence the cat anymore after some time, because it gets used to it. For example, you cannot undo a divorce or the birth of a baby.
Have your cat checked by the veterinarian in order to exclude a physical cause and/or to discuss a plan of action concerning corpulence or possible worms, fleas and parasites.
Should the cause be competition/jealousy with another animal, temporarily separate these animals and give them food and attention on different hours. Introducing a new pet is a process which takes time and patience. It might take weeks or months before a cat gets used to a new pet in its surroundings.
If your cat urinates in other places in the house than the
litter box and you think that this is caused by stress because a cat recently
joined the family, you might consider purchasing a second litter box. You may
also experiment with different kinds of litter boxes. The general rule is that
each cat should have its own litter box.
If your cat is stressed and it is the only cat in the household, it might be lonely. Taking a new cat in might be the solution. But if you're not able to take another cat, or if you do not want to take a second cat, then make sure that you have enough toys to entertain it with. Give your cat enough attention and play with your cat on a regular basis. Some cats like to have the radio or TV turned on when you leave the house.
Despite of the number of cats you have: cats like to have a spot in the house which enables them to look outside. Cats also like to lie or sleep in a nice spot in the sun. Your cat will certainly love a nice place on the window-ledge. If you have tried everything to remove the factors that cause stress (and the veterinarian has excluded a physical cause), and your cat still has stress symptoms, you might consider a consultation with a good cat behavioural expert. He/she is specialised in the cat’s psyche and together you might find a solution to make your cat a satisfied cat again.
If your cat is stressed and it is the only cat in the household, it might be lonely. Taking a new cat in might be the solution. But if you're not able to take another cat, or if you do not want to take a second cat, then make sure that you have enough toys to entertain it with. Give your cat enough attention and play with your cat on a regular basis. Some cats like to have the radio or TV turned on when you leave the house.
Despite of the number of cats you have: cats like to have a spot in the house which enables them to look outside. Cats also like to lie or sleep in a nice spot in the sun. Your cat will certainly love a nice place on the window-ledge. If you have tried everything to remove the factors that cause stress (and the veterinarian has excluded a physical cause), and your cat still has stress symptoms, you might consider a consultation with a good cat behavioural expert. He/she is specialised in the cat’s psyche and together you might find a solution to make your cat a satisfied cat again.